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Published by jpayne, 2017-11-01 11:48:07

Christmas Book Single Pages A3

Christmas Book Single Pages A3

Christmas Chaos
and Cocktails

‘Are you certain you can handle cooking Christmas dinner?’

‘Yes,’ Emily assured her older sister Ava down the phone. ‘I’m
making traditional dishes, with a fun twist!’

‘That sounds…ambitious.’

Emily rolled her eyes and hung up. When she had offered
to host Christmas this year, her family had all cautiously
reminded her that she wasn’t exactly a natural in the kitchen.
She was determined to prove them wrong. It was time to get
to work.

By the time Ava let herself and the rest of the family in, the
flat was filled with delicious smells, from the distinct spicy
fragrance of cardamom, to the sweet citrus scent of Christmas
cocktails. The table was set and decorated, the drinks were
prepared, and dinner looked ready to be served.

‘This all looks fantastic! Very impressive.’ Her mum enthused.
‘Where’s Emily?’

Ava wandered through to the next room. ‘Found her.’

Her sister was fast asleep on the sofa, looking completely
dishevelled and still holding a wooden spoon in her hand.

Ava picked up one of the mimosas from a tray on the coffee
table and took a sip. ‘Delicious,’ she whispered, as Emily let
out a gentle snore.

‘Compliments to the chef.’

A Christmas
to Remember

When they got to the rose beds at the end of the garden, Sara
held out a small white box wrapped in pink ribbon.

‘Your Christmas present. Open it when you’re on
the plane.’

Charlotte had wondered when that would come up. Though
they lived in the same London flat and had spent all of the
Christmas break back home together, her sister hadn’t said a
word about tomorrow, when Charlotte would be leaving for a
year abroad.

She slid the box carefully in her coat pocket and linked her
arm through Sara’s.

Even now, when the branches were bare thanks to the winter
frost, Charlotte could still smell the delicate, musky scent of
the roses. They used to sit among them and make up hundreds
of magical stories about an enchanted rose garden. She’d
never told anyone, but that corner of her parents’ garden,
was Charlotte’s favourite place in the world. It was home.

As the air stewards finished their safety demonstration,
Charlotte opened Sara’s gift.

Inside was simply a dried pink rose.

Charlotte smiled, closed the box and prepared
for take-off.

Home for
Christmas

‘Everything is a disaster!’ Laura’s dad exclaimed, bustling
through from the kitchen.

She had just closed the front door, shutting out the crisp,
zesty cold air, and had been taking a moment to enjoy the
familiar, floral scent of her parents’ hallway, wondering why
she’d ever swapped the comfort of her family home for the
chaos of London.

‘Grandad set himself on fire,’ her dad continued, barely
pausing for breath, ‘Zach smashed a vase, I’ve lost your
mum’s present, the dog is a nightmare, and I’ve just realised I
bought a large chicken instead of a turkey.’

Ah, yes. That was why.

Laura put down her bags and followed him into the sitting
room, immediately bathed in the welcoming cedarwood smell
of a crackling log fire and spicy mulled wine.

‘I hear you’ve had an eventful day.’ Laura smiled, warmly
greeting everyone and trying not to stare at Grandad’s frazzled
eyebrows. ‘At least it can’t get any worse.’

Suddenly, a groaning noise came from the corner of the
room as the dog pulled at the tinsel on the Christmas tree
and brought it crashing forwards, scattering baubles and
decorations everywhere.

‘Cheers!’ Laura laughed, lifting her glass.

‘It’s good to be home.’


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